Week 31! What I'm reading in August, Grapes of Wrath, Horror!

[@BookCreases]

Otis explaining a bookmark is what I needed today LOL, so cute!

[@meikusje]

Having kids do something without really giving them very clear instructions really makes one realize how scripted adult life is. You ask a kid to show their favorite book and tell something about it, and they'll just be like 'I love this book because it's green and also I like this one word on this one page a lot'.

[@ChrisDongTra]

It's crazy how nobody is talking about the forbidden ebook Magnetic Aura from Borlest

[@colbycoles6983]

Michelangelo is also my favorite ninja turtle

[@shellkay]

Loved your boys sharing fav books. They spoke so well on camera. And really like that you & your wife picked books for each other.

[@jbosick80]

Can’t get over how adorable the kids reviews were and look forward to more of them.

[@donnasticher711]

Always love your channel! PLEASE keep your kids participating, there AWESOME!

[@ihitadeeronce]

Omg your kids literally made me tear up 🥲 that was so pure

[@sarahlynnet]

Oh my goodness, the kids segment was too adorable. 😊

[@marianerennhackstein4355]

These kids were ADORABLE!!

[@donreadsalot4932]

You don't have to read Huckleberry Finn to read James, even if you know the basic relationship between Huckleberry and Jim you're good. And James is OUTSTANDING.

[@sarahhansen8004]

Haven’t read Huckleberry Finn, currently reading James. I get it even without much outside context, it’s very good so far!

[@Katesb17]

Cannery Row is so good and so funny. You're gonna love it.

[@bloomart265]

Your kids are adorable.

[@robynne2122]

Grapes of Wrath is an all time love of mine!! I agree with you about the ending and the theme of the book throughout. I think Steinbeck’s whole point was when we have absolutely nothing else, we always have to each other and from life we can give life. I loved the depiction of gritty and grey characters but family standing by family no matter what because life is just hard, so love hard! So much of the book, I had the song People Help the People stuck in my head. Also more kiddo segments!! That was precious!

[@krishnalelis]

Sick readings! I love The grapes of wrath. The ending blew my mind.

[@Rinn421]

Definitely Read Huckleberry Finn first. It was one of my favorite summer classics growing up. Made me wanna build a raft and float on the river and have adventures with my best friend. Of course it’s a product of its time but I never let that keep me from enjoying a book because it’s a piece of history. 😊 I think you will definitely enjoy reading it.

[@ellenrummel3347]

The kids did so well! Excellent choices guys! Let the Right One In is an awesome horror novel to consider.

[@justinthyme2666]

I think saving East of Eden for last is the way to go. I’d also add his travelogue Travels with Charley to your list, though it’s been a long time since I read it.

[@aliciareadsinbr]

I am now intrigued by that dinosaur book, please thank your sons for sharing!

[@lilybrowning4862]

Omg your kids showing their favorite book was so wholesome 🤗🤗🤗

[@ulrika44]

Your kids are readers! And love their reviews 🎉 Well done 👍

[@chrisabram8416]

Steinbeck is a great writer, read East of Eden, you will love it.

[@melissaaugust7016]

east of eden was my first steinbeck and i fell i love with him and his everything he has written

[@Rinn421]

Also , seeing ur kids talk about books made me remember Reading Rainbow! So fun. 😊😀

[@clarajulien]

Read Once there was a War about Steinbeck's experience as a journalist in WWII. I had just finished East of Eden when work took me to Salinas, California so I went to his grave site! Plain grave but ethereal place that is the Salinas Valley.

[@BarbaraBoholm]

Nick i loved this so much,you always make me happier with your videos... But i love your wife and kids as well😉🤗Just the way your beautiful sons Otis and Van talked about their books,heartwarming💖And the way you and your wife share books,that is such a nice thing to share... Thank you for being you!!!

[@R-dp3zp]

“You know what else makes me itchy” 😂😂😭

[@ryandaniels9846]

James was a great read. Quick and easy

[@kathryngarcia8800]

It's next in my Kindle! Thanks for the tip.

[@bethconfer8099]

Im not a parent, but I am a Granny. Very cute children with two totally different tastes in books! Thanks for sharing them!! 😊

[@megankoeller1554]

For Steinbeck I always recommend Travels with Charley. It’s short and so so good, really gets into his personality as it is non-fiction.

[@rexburgviaoklahoma]

I loved Steinbeck’s book The Pastures of Heaven. It’s a series of connected short stories that take place in the same valley in California

[@Ryan-ed3ip]

East of Eden is one my favorite books of all time

[@Dawnsbookreviews]

Yes, I am planning to make a 2024 best books list, and this book will be on that list!!❤

[@tinachoe1031]

East of Eden was one of the best books I've read. Such great writing.

[@Dawnsbookreviews]

Yes, I agree!!!❤

[@pattypage6723]

Appreciate you sharing the kids❤❤.

[@coollikebeans]

This. Channel. Is. Great

[@Georgesmomsu]

Your kids are a delight. I it’s great that they are into books already. I loved Grapes of Wrath when I read it in HS. Need to revisit it.

[@DebbieHeim-fv6yx]

Travels With Charley is Great!

[@GabeAmely]

Just found your channel man and great content. Love the energy. Keep it going my guy.

[@scliffbartoni9771]

I loveee Steinbeck. He can do slice of life fun and beautiful serious prose equally well. I'd recommend Cannery Row by him next! Its really short and heartwarming Ope I just watched the next 20 seconds and heard you are reading Cannery Row next lol, can't wait to see what you think!!

[@kellyw5304]

James is great. I didn't read Huckleberry Finn first but want to now.

[@TwoMinutesonBooks-bt8lg]

My favorite dinosaur is the T-Rex, too. 😊

[@RagtreeRenee]

Your kids are so cute! I love your reviews. Steinbeck is definitely one of my favorite authors of all time.

[@justafan9665]

Your boys did a great job!

[@justinthyme2666]

Those are some sweet kids. Very smart too when Mikey is your favorite ninja turtle

[@beardedjohnson5654]

Books are sick! Cheers, Nick!

[@Dawnsbookreviews]

Great video!!!❤ I am also planning to read scary books in October; so far I have decided on The haunting of hill house, by Shirley Jackson!!❤ Absolutely loved East of Eden!!!

[@elizabethmurphy3931]

Your children look exactly like you! That was a great segment, and I hope we see more of them.

[@BinhPham-ft8pt]

Hey I really love your videos. Thank you so much for letting me know the book club's pick every month so i can tag along. Love your kids in this video. About that itchiness, I think you should get an allergy test, just to make sure which ingredient you're allergic to, just in case you know, cause sometimes allergic reaction can be lethal.

[@alliekidd-dragula8252]

I haven't read it, but my best friend is a horror fanatic and Stolen Tongues has been the only horror book to genuinely chill her to her bones!

[@moev29]

Immediate like for kiddos sharing hobbies with dad! They’re so cute

[@hannahtell5705]

Oh I just finished east of Eden and need to pick out my next audiobook. This video came just in time

[@CarolAttrux]

You must read The Trees by Percival Everett. Great! You don’t need to have read Huck before James but, you should read Huck sometime, too. Loved the boys’ segment!

[@stefrosas5572]

Omg I get itchy with pizza now too!!! I’m never gonna stop either idc lol

[@keikotalley4314]

I read James last month after reading Huckleberry Finn (for the first time) I think reading Finn first made reading James much more enjoyable and immersive. I loved James, an incredible read, I’m jumping into another Percevil Everett soon… have The Trees on my hold list. I’m a huge Steinbeck fan and Grapes of Wrath fan. I loved the ending so much, one of those that makes you sit and really reflect. Also read The Red Pony recently, also very good and it’s a quick read! Love your channel!

[@hannahjenuwine1088]

While I agree that you don’t have to read Huck Finn before James- that’s what I did last month. I think the benefit of reading Huck Finn first is that you get the full context and it makes Everett’s choices to deviate from the source material more powerful. James is also just so amazing that I think you’d be underwhelmed by Huck Finn by comparison (no shade to Huck Finn, I enjoyed it also). Whatever you read first, reading them in conversation with each other was an insightful and interesting experience for me. Happy reading!

[@boisemalone]

This year I read Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, Animal Farm by George Orwell, and just finished A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer. Now I'm reading The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

[@lilyloranger9625]

I read James a few months ago!! I have not read Huckleberry Finn, and while I had to look some things up I did not have a hard time understanding (or appreciate) James! Happy reading!

[@Freshlysqueezedlimes]

Little Heaven by Nick Cutter is an incredible read for October. It centers on some mercenaries who are hired to rescue a young boy from a religious cult in the middle of the woods that is run by a crazy leader under the influence of a much darker entity. Easily the best of Cutters books.

[@johnwhite379]

Wizard and Glass is so good.

[@SuperDesignermatt]

Raphael has always been my fav! Also can you create a BAS Bookmark for merch! I’m in need of one, but I’d like a nice one! I’m using a photo of me and my girlfriend and the photo is starting to wear out!

[@DJMadsMom1975]

My favorite Steinbeck is Travels with Charley. It's about the time he drove around the US in a truck camper with his dog Charley. I don't know why I never see it anywhere, in book stores or on KZbin.

[@Dawnsbookreviews]

I have seen that one mentioned on Bookstagram and it's on my radar!❤

[@leenverbraken1683]

I’m also on the Steinbeck train 🤩 I was blown away with East of Eden.. I think it’s a good thing to read some other ones first. I’m now reading Travels with Charley🙂 The red pony and The Moon is Down were also great reads! The Moon is down took me by surprise: it felt different, but I really loved this one in the end. The ending of Grapes of Wrath was a little strange 🙈 But I liked it.

[@Dawnsbookreviews]

I loved East of Eden!❤ Now I need to buy a copy of The grapes of wrath!!

[@scottroyle86]

If you get itchy eating pizza, you should look into if it is actually the cooked tomato sauce. A lactose issue will generally manifest in tummy issues but there are actually a lot of people who are slightly allergic to cooked tomato sauce - I don't know why. Do you have a similar reaction with just lasagna or any Bolognese sauce?

[@ethanpham4778]

I'm reading grapes of wrath right now and East of Eden is my fav book. It's been excellent, but not on the same level as Eden imo. Grapes is more sociology and politics leaning, while Eden is about free will, choice, evil, etc. And even though Grapes has been great, at times I find it a bit slow and tedious lol, but still a great novel. Pick up Eden whenever it feels right to, it'll find you at the perfect spot.

[@SD9xcp311x]

Since you grooved to Grapes..You really need to read some Emile Zola! I believe "The Earth" (La Terre) is a great starting point, also more unKool (great books but not trendy) lit from the 1920s! Thomas Wolfe- Look Homeward Angel (the greatest book ever besides War and Peace!)_ Sinclair Lewis- MainStreet and Babbitt! John Dos Passos- USA trilogy!!!!

[@an24327]

I read Grapes of Wrath for Summer School my Junior year in high school and I do remember being bored out of my mind. I'm from Salinas, which is where Steinbeck is from so his works were shoved down my throat throughout my young life so it was underappreciated by me. In college, I picked up East of Eden for a fun read and now it's my favorite book still after three rereads more than a decade later. I picked up Grapes of Wrath again because of you and will give it another shot. Bottom line, you will love East of Eden. It's a masterpiece.

[@tylergalicia3414]

The winter of our discontent by Steinbeck is marvelous. If you’re going to commit self-harm by dodging East of Eden then at least do this one. Supremely underrated.

[@patriciabuuck5277]

Harvest Home is to me anyway a scary horror book that starts out normal and benign but gets creepier and darker. Its an older book and I think Tryon is the last name of the author. Thomas Tryon I believe. As for Steinbeck I need to reread some of his works, recently I found a copy of On the Road with Jake. Its a true journal type book about him in the early 60s buying a brand new Truck with camper on the back and planning a road trip from his home in Long Island across the country and back with only his dog Jake. I was sucked right in. His writing is that I felt that I was along with them. Your boys are sweet and love their love for reading books

[@RKC2019]

I read James without having read Huckleberry Finn and I thought it was an awesome story! The pacing of the book is great and the ending is really powerful. I don't think you have to read Huck finn first if you don't want to.

[@jaycieofalltrades]

i just read the winter of our discontent by steinbeck, and i was pleasantly surprised! i had no clue what to expect, and was afraid that after east of eden nothing would compare, but i really enjoyed this one! and it touches on similar themes as east of eden

[@sonny423]

Huck Finn is a classic for a reason. Definitely recommend a read at some point if not before James

[@ReadingRekindled]

I’m reading James right now and then rereading The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. James is so much better! Definitely deserves all of the hype.

[@theponyisday]

I love how you’re constantly evolving, you did vlogging you do reviews, you do merch, you do book club , now you’re posting everything precisely at 6 PM and a guest surprise with your adorable children ?? You mentioned your sobriety (congratulations by the way), etc.. It’s always something new.. I look forward to each video, I remember a couple of videos back you said No Country For Old Men was on your reading list, just a question to you or the other fans out there watching, has he given a review on that yet? Because I can’t seem to find it.

[@emilygerberg]

I’m not super well versed in Steinbeck’s work, but I LOVED To a God Unknown!

[@ib_ratton]

Great books ✨👌 In Dubious Battle is another great Steinbeck read!

[@cccastaneda5081]

I would say Perfume for October. It's a beautiful book even if the man is a murderer but Nick, if you really want titles of books that will really get under your skin, i have some suggestions but I warn you, we are getting into demented, insane, disturbing and uncomfortable territory: Tender is the Flesh, The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum, The Wasp Factory, Gone to See the River Man, Zombie by Oats (the writing threw me off a bit), Child of God by McCarthy, and Haunted. I got more but they are borderline just plain sick 😂

[@anything3622]

For a real terrifying book I'd recommend anything by Patrick Senecal but more specifically The Passenger and 5150 Elm street ^^

[@anthonym.7653]

The Pearl...a Steinbeck gem.

[@andrewgarcia2018]

If "sitting with the family/characters" is your thing, please read The Nightingale and The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah (reading now). She creates such an amazing story but chilling with the families.

[@karollynnzavala9908]

Hi there, greetings from Mexico City! 😊 Perhaps one of your scary reads could be We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer, or Perfume, or The Picture of Dorian Gray.

[@norahwinston9281]

I read The Pearl this past week and it was a really quick read!!!! Not my favorite Steinbeck but worth a read for sure!

[@Ryan-ed3ip]

I'm reading Steinbecks Sea of Cortez

[@DoppelgangerJulia]

Travels with Charlie by Steinbeck is awesome

[@tristanpalacol7884]

A fun horror one to consider in the list is The Devil In Silver by Victor LaValle!!

[@MiruMSO]

I recommend 'Boys in the Valley' by Philip Fracassi and also 'The Last Days of Jack Sparks' by Jason Arnopp. (both scared me 😨

[@amyschmelzer6445]

My plan is to read Huck Finn before James too. They’re on my sitting on my stack of August’s pile of possibilities, but I doubt I will read them back to back. It will probably be September or October or even November before I get to James.

[@donreadsalot4932]

DEFINITELY read The Boys in the Valley for October!!!!!

[@shawnlee220]

The Red Pony. The author of the Longmire series is a Steinbeck fan and you’ll see random references to him throughout his books. 😀

[@shadowoflugia]

I plan on reading Huckleberry Finn before reading James.

[@nikkivenable73]

Absolutely read HF before diving into James!

[@Iamthewalrus-1966]

The Rats by James Herbert, and the sequel to it: Lair. Small books, big horror

[@YourNeighbor442]

❤ your kids!

[@MiguelSilva-gi8su]

Ending of Grapes of Wrath left me thinking “Wait, what?… WHAT? 😱” Ending of East of Eden left me saying “aw s@%t” then began crying like a baby

[@jules.mp3]

I just started the book "Small Mercies" by Dennis Lehane. I think you would enjoy it a lot. It's the same author who wrote Mystic River and Shutter Island.

[@jamgart6880]

Week 31 already! You still feel brand new 😊

[@theponyisday]

I would watch this man every week until the day I die 😅

[@CaoBachChung]

There's a banned ebook called Magnetic Aura from Borlest, and it talks from body language to mind tricks to increase attraction, it's the real deal

[@cass1594]

for horror books i highly recommend Mary by Nat Cassidy and Echo by Thomas Olde Heuvelt. both books i’ve read this year and deserve so much more recognition. both very haunting with mystery elements!

[@barnziee]

dude cannery row is pretty great!

[@Kaiii23]

Add the Exorcist into the October list!!!! It actually kinda creeped me out when I was reading it the other night

[@rachell4694]

Your boys are so sweet.